Lecturer&#39;s reading-box.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. PRINCE AND GEORGE E. BIDDELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LECTURERS READING-BOX.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK l/V. PRINCE and GEORGE E. BiDoELL, citizens of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Im.- provements in Lecturers Reading-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a reading-box for lecturers, and pertains especially to a device for holding and illuminating copies of lecture manuscript, or the like.

It frequently occurs that ministers, orators, lecturers, and numerous other public speakers, wish to accompany their discourses with illustrations cast upon a screen by suitable apparatus, and when so doing all lights must be extinguished in the auditorium. This places an unusual and trying hardship upon the speakers, and especially those talking upon technical subjects, which require a speaker often to refer to notes in order to cite figures or statistics, or for any other purpose.

It is an object of this invention to devise a simple, inexpensive apparatus whereby a public speaker may conveniently carry and place his manuscript or notes; to provide means whereby he is enabled to deftly and without being noticed, advance the sheets or sheet with perfect ease, and to provide means in combination with the apparatus, for supplying suliicient light upon the manuscript to permit the operator to clearly see the text, and also provide means for preventing any escape of rays of light from the case. In other words we wish to make it possible for one to read his manuscript in a dark room or hall, with'out his auditors being aware of the fact.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective of the device, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view, showing the wiring.

The invention as actually embodied in practice, comprises a case A of suitable dimensions and shape, preferably covered eXteriorly with leather or other desirable material, 4and having its inner surfaces e coated witha dead black pigment, or other non-reflecting substance. In appearance, the case which we have frequently used is about Specification of Letters Patent.

Application lerl April 12, 1909.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Serial No. 489,462.

8 inches square, and has the appearance of a camera-box.

The case has a top 2 hinged at 3, and provided with a handle 4 for convenient handling; when closed the cover 2 is held in place by a snap-hook 5, or equivalent, secured to a front panel 6, hinged to the case, and which is adapted to be swung down in front of the case A to expose the interior.

Vhen the spring hook 5 has been released, the top 2 will instantly be raised by a spring 7, and suitable flexible blinds or bellows 8 fastened at each side of the top and to the case, limit the upward movement of the top and partially shield the interior from side view.

Transversely journaled within the case A are lower and upper reels or spools 9 and 10 respectively, mounted for quick removal and replacement upon small studs 1l, having milled heads 12, and upon these reels may be attached a strip of paper 13 bearing the text.

In order to wind up the strip 13, the upper reel 10 has secured to it a pinion 14 which engages a similar pinion 15 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 16, which carries at the lower end a gear 17 meshing with a larger gear 18 fast on a rod 19 mounted adjacent the bottom of the case A, and pro jecting forward beneath the open panel 6. Rod 19 may be actuated by means of a small knob 20 which the o-perator turns from time to time, as he proceeds with the lecture, thus drawing the paper off the lower reel, and winding it on to the upper.

Suitable means, such as the brake 21, which is caused to press against the reel 9 by'a spring 22, may be employed to keep the paper taut.

At any time the lecturer wishes to repeat or review that portion of the manuscript or copy which has been wound on reel 10.,

he simply has to turn back the lower reel 9 the Wires may be entirely concealed by. the

leather finish of the case A, andthe top 2f may be opened or closed Without interruptn f tending normally to open the top, means in `the current.

rom one hinge 3 a Wire 26 is inlaid over the case 'to ar'; switch-27. I`nounted...on` the in-M terior surface of' a Wall of' thecase, *and* is adapted kto besvvung into engagement with either 0f contaCtsQS or 29, from Which con j cluctors 30 and 3l' areled toplates secured in the case A, and `against which bear the Vpoles, of suitable independent batteries S11-$4?, these batteries' vbeing held in `posirays in A is direction, but being provided vvhen'required.

Having thus described our tion by the rear hingeddoor 35 ofthe'ease `other contact and-so cutsy inith'efotheI-"batl tery. These batteries being very small, it

will in"Lfnially reqnire vboth batteries for ia long 1 lecture, and' sometimes one ofthem will haveA to' be renewed.

'current from this plate to connect` Withthe fhin'ge 3 to ywhich'v'vire'25 is secured.'

In'Fig. 2 he arrangement of 'he severali condctors and elements: Qareg pleinlrshown, the Cireubberig es. fdl'l'OWSf Wheriiswitch 2T is on contact 28,1;-lecnrrentf *fiovvsthr'oiigh'wire'jplate 32, battei electrical isi-Se lover toLcont'act "29, "v'vhich''will` vclose -t` @uit through"linea-sepia@ sa, 'batt `A protector or .,acter is pivotedlat 3 9- to the` l ery 1 surround that portion of the li hf 'thelectnrer to-prevent any radiaton 'be svvnng to one v`side :so thata new fwhat wefcl'aim and desire lto secure Let- 'sprin -pressed iny an outward ,':dineetiomya o was the-iside, and mechanism we 1 1. the :for supp'orti'ng and `operatng afin'arie-v flexibje yfiap` cnnectingfthe ends of trollfy y Y, AffreadHe-bwi ha mgahinge ,fron

The, purpose. of a pluralieof in@ dentbatteries is to insure againsttheac' dent of having onebatteryriin 'eiift; Thus, yin the 'system `includin yran 'ed to o en to disclose the interior of 4the oX, sai to connected at its ends with the side of the 0X by a fiexible fap, means the side ofthe 0X by 'al fls'exible` flap, means.

tending -norinally to open the top, means for 'secnring'the'to and front in closed position, nannscript ro l-supporting mechanism inlsidethe heini. mechanism at'one end ofthe `bjoxior operating' the roll inone direction, andl othei` mechanism beneath the 'front when' `,the latter is open cooperatethe roll iny an Vopposite'v direction.

4L. A reading-box having a Vhinged front, and la l hingedv top, said. front and top ar,- yranged :tofejpen to disclose the interior of the box, saidtopconnected at'its' ends with A A centralcontact bar 3G yis provided, and vis siiliiciently long. to engage the poles of the Vtv'vo batteries 34, a conductor'?- carrying 'the side of the boX by a flexible flap., means tending 4normally-dto open the top, `means for securing thevtop and` front in closed position, manuscript yroll-snp'po'rting mechan- 1 visininside the hoX5and an electric lighting a lamp lWithin the boX yadapteiil* toQil'lummate .the manuscript roll..

reading-box having a side and top hingedjtodepen ont from each other to dis- -fcleseth'e 'interior of the kloert, Vi'n'echaiiism Vinfor supporting' and `operating cri troll an electriclighting sysithin'the b oX,. with ya "lamp x, iaii'd a Ishield for preventing the lamp froniff'being projected X;' v y V '"readingbox having. a hinged top,

"ed side `foldable into open and cleared', position, l meansA` connecting the Y' ends -vof the"y top.l Withvthe" sides ofthe box to pre1-f f light ipassingout between the WithinI the boX.

In .testilnon Witnesses.

tgl-,laminate the roll When the `11() p 'andfbo'x `When the top isl of Winding rolls in*V the box) ,disposed at 'an `ain'clined plane, ya flejiible `vrstripjco1 ineeted With the rolls, la shaft exi' l. Itendingcniteide'the box having gear con Vi'ieetions ,vvith the topinost Vof said. rolls to:` "Wind `Inan'ii's'cript on toV that' roll.' from :the other roll, othermechanism for revvinding' the` strip, and lighting means fully hoiised 1 Y 4 fvv-hereofj We `have hereunto. set our 'hands-infpresence'ofltvvoSubsc omamaesnmse 

